Comments on: The Handset of the Future Needs Wi-Fi http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:04:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: a http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154314 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:29:21 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154314 from the other report on vzw and lte, it looks like wifi is being considered at least on the femto cells…

]]> By: Q dub http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154313 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:31:13 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154313 Though I do suspect the omission of WiFI from the Storm is due to its world phone capability.

]]> By: Q dub http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154312 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:29:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154312 Absolute, just from a pure economics perspective, it is ludicrous that traffic is routed through scarce 3G airwaves and infrastructure when a much cheaper path exists.

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154311 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:04:45 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154311 @Bob Freeman

WiFi actually provides better battery life than 3G — as all the tests I have seen of handsets with both have demonstrated this unequivocally. So connecting to your fast satellite WiFi will give you more battery life than 3G if battery life is what you want. As for security, do you really think 3G is more secure than WPA2? I assure you it is not. Anyway, it sucks that you can’t make good use of WiFi, but what about the tens of millions that can? I think if a feature is usable by approximately half your market, it is a worthwhile feature to include. And in the case of WiFi it is certainly not expensive, which is why almost every smartphone does already have it.

Considering that the Blackberry Storm exists solely to counter the appeal of the iPhone, it is not out of place to compare the two. I think both have shortcomings that make them untenable for many. To prefer the iPhone is not really saying all that much. It’s like saying you’d rather be shot in the hand than in the foot.

]]> By: Bob Freeman http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154310 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:32:21 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154310 WiFi connections assume that the end user has a fast wifi connection…There is a huge number of people in the United States who have Satellite, ISDN or God forbid, 56kb modems. Sending a VOIP connection through a 56kb modem is never going to cut it. Where I live, I have good cell connections and a fast Satellite link, but I would never try to use WiFi to go up to a Satellite try to make a voice call.
No cable or DSL carrier will bring a line up to my house, even though it terminates at the end of the road and even if I offer to pay the installation cost.
I think it is great that all of the writers and computer experts live in big cities, with fast connection and unlimited wifi, but that is not the situation in the rest of the country.
Why would I want a Wifi connection that drains the battery when I can have a good cell connection and long battery life?
All of this discussion is really about the wonderfulness of the Iphone and it’s perfect implementation.
Lets’ not even go into the security issues with wifi…
Enjoy….
Bob

]]> By: Stacey Higginbotham http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154309 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:06:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154309 Jesse, I know you are right about Verizon and it kills me. They are the network I love to hate. The coverage and even customer service rocks, but damned if they aren’t the most expensive carrier out there and so frustrating the way they limit features. I’m going to start foaming at the mouth if I keep thinking about the way they crimp my nav services.

]]> By: Jesse Kopelman http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154308 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:04:13 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154308 I think, for the most part, _the handset of the present_ already has WiFi. The only doubter is Verizon, but given they have over 30% of the market that is a real 800lb gorilla. Maybe their next move will be to selectively enable WiFi on your device if you pay a monthly service fee, a la GPS.

]]> By: Julie Allen http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154307 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:10:00 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154307 You are ready for the TODAY show. Very fun.

]]> By: Why does WiFi keep showing up in more and more best selling gadgets? http://gigaom.com/2008/12/03/the-handset-of-the-future-needs-wi-fi/#comment-154306 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:33:28 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=30922#comment-154306 [...] Stacey at GigaOm shot his video. While this video won´t make it to the most watched videos it gives an excellent explanation of why WiFi keeps growing exponentially around the world. In 2006 when Fon was founded there were around 200 million wifi chips made and this year will end with over a billion. And while it doesn´t mention Fon it is gadgets that is making us end the year with over 300,000 Fonspots around the world. It´s paradoxical that Fon started as a WiMax company, failed and was reborn as a WiFi company. WiMax is the perennial future that never happens. WiFi grows and grows. [...]

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